Beet topping unit



Sept. 26, 1967 A. F. BARNES BEET TOPPING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheetl Filed May5, 1964 INVENTOR. ANDREW F. BARNES BY ATTORNEY vSept. 26, 1967 A. F.BARNES BEET TOPPING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ANDREW E BARNES BYFiled May 5, 1964 A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,343,348 BEET TOPPINGUNIT Andrew F. Barnes, Rte. 1, Box 292, Longmont, Colo. 80501 Filed May5, 1964, Ser. No. 365,864 Claims. (Cl. 56-121.44)

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.178,954, filed Mar. 12, 1962, and entitled, Beet Topping Unit, nowabandoned.

This invention relates to a new and improved beet topper which isparticularly adapted for use as an attachment on a vehicle, such as abeet harvesting machine or tractor, in removing the foliage, trash andcrown portions of sugar beets.

In harvesting sugar beets a beet topping unit is conventionally employedas a preliminary to the actual digging operation to sever and remove thecrowns and top foliage portion of the beets. Customarily, the beettopper is comprised of a combination knife and finder wheel which willride across the beet tops to perform this topping operation. Inaccordance with the present invention it has been found highly desirableto so construct and arrange a knife and finder wheel in relation to oneanother as to greatly improve both the topping and cleaning operations,and specifically in such a way that the wheel will yieldingly, butpositively, engage and position the beets for cutting at the desireddepth, then will subsequently clear or clean the severed portions so asto keep the knife and cutting area clean for further cutting.

It is another desired feature and objective of the present invention tomake provision in a beet topping unit for maximum adjustability andflexibility so that it is possible to regulate and to keep uniform thedepth of cut,

notwithstanding unevenness of the beet rows and incon-.

sistent level of the beet crowns above the ground.

A further objective of the present invention is to construct and arrangethe knife blade in relation to the wheel for most positive and efficientcutting action, and in association therewith to provide means forguiding and directing the foliage and trash across the path of thefinder wheel and knife for severance and discharge therefrom.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a simpleyet dependable and highly efficient beet unit conformable for use as asingle or multiple row beet topper and characterized by its ability tobe self-regulating and cleaning; and futher, wherein the elementscomprising the unit will cooperate together to urge the beet tops, trashand foliage into position for cutting and discharge in a novel andimproved manner.

It is an additional objective and purpose of this invention to provide agreatly simplified and improved beet topper unit incorporating a finderwheel composed of a yieldable high friction material and employed incooperation with an adjustable knife to carry out either high or lowcrowning operations, depending on the size of beets, in a novel andeflicient manner and specifically in such a way that the wheel will pullthe beet crown across the knife and discharge the severed crown portion,trash and foliage completely away from the knife to keep the knife areaclear forfurther crowning operations.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more readily understood from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle including a preferredform of beet topper attachment devised in accordance wtih the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the beet topper attachment anddrive mechanism shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the preferred form of beet topperattachment and drive mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a view partially in section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view partially in section taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side view in detail of a modified form ofknife blade construction and a guide member used in associationtherewith; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the modified form of device shown in FIGURE6.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is shown by way ofillustrative example in FIGURES 1-5 a preferred form of beet topper unit10 in attached relation to a vehicle V, here represented as a tractor,which defines a wheeled frame or motive source for the beet topper unit.For the purpose of describing the present invention, the vehicleincludes a main drive axle 12 and front Wheel 13. Of course, othersuitable means may be employed to advance the beet topper along the beetrows, although for reasons to become apparent it is greatly preferred topush the unit ahead of the vehicle rather than to draw or pull it.

In utilizing the beet topper unit 10, a triple-row attachment isillustrated as being mounted beneath the vehicle frame, each unit orattachment having a main supporting frame 15 extending forwardly andhorizontally from a common stationary frame 16 which traverses thesubstantial width of the main axle 12. From this, it will be seen thateither one or a plurality of beet topper attachments may be employed asdesired and depending to some extent upon the size and capacity of thevehicle. With the above in mind, each beet topper unit 10 is identicalin construction' and arrangement and correspondingly mounted on thecommon frame 16 for pivotal up and down movement in relation to the mainaxle 12.

Broadly, in addition to the frame 15, each unit is comprised of a finderwheel 18 mounted on a drive axle 19 for rotation by means of a drivemechanism 20 passing between the main axle 12 and front axle 19. A knifeholder assembly 22 is adjustably connected to the supporting frame 15for positioning a topping knife23 is centered, closely spaced relationbeneath the finder wheel 18 so that cutting edge 24 of the knife extendstransversely across and beneath the lower surface of the wheel.

The supporting frame 15 and common frame 16 are designed to support thefinder wheel and topping knife 23 for forward advancement along theground surface and in such a way that the knife and finder wheel areable to closely follow the irregular contour of the beet rows.Accordingly, the frame 15 is positioned to extend forwardly in ahorizontal direction from the drive axle so that the wheel 18 and knifeholder assembly 22 are free to ride or pivot in substantially a verticaldirection. To this end, the common frame 16 includes mounting blocks 25disposed on the drive axle 12, and a pair of outer, spaced brackets 26,each defined by a vertical brace 27 and a lower horizontal brace 28, aresupported by the blocks 25. An intermediate jackshaft 29 is journaledfor rotation in outside bearing blocks 30, which are mounted on thebrackets 26, and inside bearing blocks 30, which are connected to abracket 31 for the supporting frame 15. The bracket 31 is in the form ofan angle-iron traversing the substantial width of the vehicle betweenthe main brackets 26 to act as a means of pivotal connection for eachframe 15. In turn, each individual supporting frame 15 includes aforwardly extending, longitudinal beam 32 having a cross member in theform of a sleeve 33 journaled on a pivot pin 34, the latter beingmounted by means of plates and limit pins 36 on the bracket 31.Reinforcing bars 38 extend angularly between each beam 32 and crossmember 33 merely to support the beam against sidewise thrust. In thismanner, the beam is frree to swing upwardly and downwardly about thepivot pin 34.

In order to drive the finder wheel 18, the axle 19 is mounted at theforward distal end of the beam 32 in a bearing 40 secured to theunderside of the beam, and carries a sprocket wheel 41 forming a part ofthe drive mechanism. Preferably a chain drive is employed including adrive sprocket wheel 42 on the main drive axle 12 which rotates thejackshaft 29 through a chain 44 trained over a sprocket wheel 45, ofreduced size, on the jackshaft. The jackshaft then drives the axle 19through an intermediate sprocket 46 and chain 47 trained over thesprocket 41. The speed of rotation is increased through the drivemechanism to rotate the finder wheel at a rate faster than the groundspeed of the vehicle, and in a direction corresponding with the forwardadvancement of the vehicle to most effectively discharge the severedcrowns away from the knife and to keep the cutting area clear at alltimes.

As an important feature of the present invention, the finder wheel 18 iscomposed of a flexible or resilient material having the characteristicsof high friction and yieldability, in order to compensate fordifferences in size and depth of the beet crowns, while positivelyurging the crowns through the knife cutting area. In the preferred form,an inflatable rubber tire is employed which will afford the desiredflexible, but positive engagement with the tops. Thus, inflation can beregulated to provide the necessary give or yield during the toppingoperation; and the outer, beet-engaging tread surface of the tire, beingdefined by closely spaced flexible ribs composed of a rubber orrubber-like material, will under rotation frictionally engage the beetcrowns and tops to positively urge them through and beyond the cuttingarea. As an alternative, a semi-pneumatic tire or a high friction,resilient tread section applied over a metal wheel would lend somewhatsimilar results, but not as effectively as the inflatable tire. The tirewill be largely governed in size and diameter by the disposition of theframe in relation to the ground surface since the tire should be locatedin spaced, adjacent relation above the ground surface permitting enoughroom for the knife to be centered beneath the tire with a slight amountof clearance to allow passage of the beet tops therebetween.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the particulardisposition and arrangement of the knife holder assembly in relation tothe unit and particularly finder wheel 18. As best seen from FIGURES2-4, the knife holder assembly 22 is comprised of a one-piece knifesupport member, in the form of a generally U-shaped bar, having an upperhorizontal length 50 and a lower, relatively short horizontal length 51interconnected by an angularly extending intermediate length 52 trailingdownwardly and rearwardly from the upper length 50. The topping knife isconnected such as by bolts 53 at one end to the rearward end of thelower length 51 and tapers away from the member 51 transversely beneaththe tire 18. In this relation, the forward part of the knife supportunit will project forwardly beyond the front surface of the finder wheelto define the initial point of engagement between the unit and the beettops and as described will tend to urge the leaves and foliagedownwardly into engagement with the tire and through the knife cuttingarea.

The knife 23 has its cutting edge 24 centered in closely spaced relationbeneath the finder wheel, and to provide the necessary adjustment andsupport for the knife the upper horizontal length 50 is inserted withina hollow box-shaped frame 55 and clamped therein by means of upper andlower oppositely directed adjustment screws 56 and 57 respectively. Theupper screws 56 extend through the top of the frame 55 at opposite endsthereof and in alignment with a corresponding pair of lower adjustmentscrews 57. It will be evident that by regulating the inward and outwardadjustment of the screws it is possible to control the vertical distancebetween the knife 23 and lower surface of the finder wheel. In addition,the knife cutting edge can be tilted up or down for special toppingoperations merely by adjusting the rear pair of screws in relation tothe front pair. Moreover, the knife is centered beneath the lowerextremity of the tire by loosening the screws and sliding the upperlength 50 longitudinally or horizontally in relation to the frame 55. Inthis position the cutting edge is angled slightly so as to trailrearwardly from its point of connection to the lower section 51 acrossand beneath the bottom surface of the tire, as best seen from FIGURES 2and 4, so that the knife will tend to slice through the beet tops.Accordingly, in centered relation, the intermediate portion of the knifecutting edge is centrally located beneath the lowest center point on thetire; and, when the tire surface moves into engagement with the beettops and forces them through the cutting area, the tread surface willflatten to some extent to exert the greatest pressure on the beet topthrough the cutting area. Furthermore, the tire will maintain firmengagement with the beet top upon cutting so as to urge the severedportion through and beyond the knife and to discharge it rearwardly forcollection by suitable pickup attachments located at the rear of thetractor. Although not shown, these attachments are conventionallyemployed and will serve to pick up all tops, loose leaves and trash fordelivery to the sides of the topped rows for subsequent removal.

To suspend the forward end of the topping unit in spaced inoperativerelation above the ground, suitable means including a conventional powerlift, not shown, connected to a chain 60 may be employed. To begin thetopping operation, the lift and chain are released so that the knife 23will ride freely along the ground. The disposition of the knife andfinder wheel will be such that the finder wheel will rise and fallaccording to the level of the beet tops above the ground, and the knifewill follow the up and down movement of the finder wheel to perform thesame uniform depth of cut each time. In this relation, preferably thetire is under relatively low inflation, or less than full inflation, sothat it will yield appreciably as it engages the beet tops between theknife and wheel. Accordingly, the cutting depth can be controlled notonly through the adjusting frame but to some extent by the amount ofinflation in the tire. Use of a high friction material such as the tiretread surface formed of closely spaced flexible ribs is highlyadvantageous, also, in that it eliminates special ribs or projectingelements which would otherwise have a tendency to enter the tops makingit diflicult to release or discharge the tops once severed by thecutting knife. As a further advantage in the topping operation, theknife will have performed approximately one-half the cut when the beettop is centered beneath the lowest extremity of the wheel and the knife,or in other words, firmest engagement is established at the center ofthe beet top where cutting is more difficult. The tapered form of theknife will also lend a slicing action to the operation and tend to forcethe severed top outwardly upon cutting for discharge away from the tirein an outward and rearward direction.

It is preferable to combine a group of beet topper units in order to topseveral rows at a time, as in the preferred form, and thus afford theoperator plenty of time to stay ahead of the beet digging equipment. Asa result, the units may be advanced at the desired rate of speed, and itis preferable to operate the units at a somewhat slower pace than thedigging equipment since the units will perform much more effectively. Aspreviously mentioned, by employing multiple row devices in connectionwith conventional pick-up row attachments mounted at the rear of thetractor the severed portions including the foliage and trash can bepicked up and delivered to the side of each topped row then laterremoved with the aid of other equipment.

In FIGURES 6 and 7, a modified form of topping knife 23' is illustratedin attached relation to a relatively short horizontal bar 51'. Althoughnot shown, that bar 51 may form the lower horizontal extremity of aframe, such as, the knife holder assembly 22 shown in FIGURES 1 to 5.The topping knife is in the form of a flat, elongated plate connected toone end by means, such as bolts 53, to the underside of the bar 51 toextend transversely or laterally beneath the drive or finder wheel 18represented in dotted form in FIGURE 7. The front side of the knife isprovided with angularly extending cutting edges 65 and 66 intersectingone another to form a corner or notch 68. It will be noted that theouter leading edge 65 extends in spaced relation beneath the bottomsurface of the tire or wheel 18' at a slight trailing angle to thetransverse direction, whereas the inner edge angles forwardly andinwardly from the corner 68 toward the bar so as to form an obtuseincluded angle between the intersecting edges.

A resilient guide member 70 is secured to the bar 51' just forwardly andabove the topping knife to yieldingly urge any trash or foliage passinginwardly of the wheel to move outwardly beneath the path of advancementof the wheel for cutting and subsequent discharge so as not to build upor collect in the area between the wheel and bar. To this end, the guidemember 70 is defined by an elongated spring element or rod having afront coiled end 71 attached by bolt 72 to the upper surface of the bar51, and a downwardly and outwardly curving free end 74 terminating abovethe intersecting edge or corner 68. The guide member is made to flex orbend out of the way in order not to interfere with passage of the beetcrowns and solid portions across the knife while catching and throwingthe lighter trash and foliage materials over into the main path oftravel of the wheel for discharge. In this relation, the guide 70 willcooperate with the inner cutting edge in forcing the material outwardlybeneath the wheel, at which point the outer cutting edge 65 and drivewheel 18' operate together to cut and discharge the materials rearwardlyand outwardly away from the knife. The intersecting edge or corner 68cooperates with the outer cutting edge due to the abrupt change indirection at this point whereby the material will become snagged orcaught momentarily by the corner until the drive wheel forces thematerial across the knife for cutting and discharge.

Various other modifications may be made in the present invention, forexample, in the particular manner of attachment to the vehicle or othermotive source provided. It has been found preferable to mount the unit,as shown, so that it is driven and advanced from the rear, rather thanbeing pulled or drawn. Thus, the unit is powered from the rear andpositively advanced ahead of the vehicle so that the finder wheel willmore easily seek its own level in relation to the beets; also theoperator can more closely watch the entire operation and control itaccordingly. Furthermore, by positioning the beet topping units at theforward part of the vehicle any necessary auxiliary equipment can bedrawn behind the same vehicle without interfering with the toppingoperation. Nevertheless, if desired, it will be apparent that the unitsmay as easily be pulled at the rear of the vehicle while retaining mostof the advantages and characteristics as hereinbefore set forth.Accordingly, it will be understood that the above and a number ofmodifications and changes may be made in the construction andarrangement of parts comprising the present invention without departingfrom the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a beet topping device mounted in attached relation to a tractor ofthe type having an elongated narrow chassis with a front center wheelmember and a rear drive axle provided with spaced apart rear drivewheels, the combination therewith comprising a series of beet topperunits including a common, relatively stationary support being mountedforwardly of and in spaced parallel relation to the rear drive axle andextending transversely across the substantial width of the tractor, aplurality of pivotal support members being pivotally connected to saidstationary support for forward substantially horizontal extensiontherefrom in uniformly spaced, parallel relation to one another acrossthe substantial width of the tractor and being pivotal independently ofone another on said stationary support, each of said topper unitsfurther including a topping knife assembly depending downwardly from theforward end of each pivotal support member, each knife assembly having atopping knife with a front cutting edge extending in horizontaltransverse relation to the direction of movement of the tractor, a drivewheel being mounted for rotation on each pivotal support member inspaced, centered relation above the front cutting edge for engagementwith the beet tops, said topping knives and associated drive wheelsbeing suspended from said pivotal support members at uniformally spacedtransverse intervals across the substantial width of the tractor andwith the spacing therebetween corresponding to the spacing between beetrows, and drive means being drivingly connected to each of said drivewheels to simultaneously rotate said drive wheels in a direction urgingthe beet tops in each row toward and across the respective toppingknives for topping and discharge therefrom.

2. In a beet topping device according to claim 1, each drive wheel beingdefined by an inflatable tire having an outer beet-engaging treadsurface defining a continuous series of closely spaced flexible ribs, aholder assembly for each topping knife, and supporting means on eachpivotal support memberremovably supporting said holder assemblyincluding adjusting members engaging said holder assembly to provide forvertical and angular tilting adjustment of said knife in relation tosaid wheel.

3. In a beet-topping device according to claim 1, each topping knifeincluding a front cutting edge extending laterally in closely spacedrelation beneath each finder wheel for cutting engagement with the beettops, and a flexible guide member mounted in spaced relation abovetopping knife and extending angularly in a rearward direction whereby toyieldingly urge the beet tops into the path of travel of said wheel oversaid topping knife.

4. In a beet-topping device according to claim 1, each knife beingprovided with front intersecting cutting edges including an outercutting edge extending laterally beneath the finder wheel and an innercutting edge extending forwardly and inwardly toward said frame from thepoint of intersection with the outer cutting edge.

5. In a beet-topping device adapted for mounting on a vehicle forforward advancement therewith having a frame and a finder wheel mountedon the frame for yielding engagement with the beet tops, a knife holderassembly being in the form of a generally U-shaped bar having an upperhorizontal portion adjustably mounted on said frame, an intermediateportion inclining downwardly and rearwardly in front of said finderwheel and a lower knife-supporting portion extending rearwardly fromsaid intermediate portion, a beet topping knife connected at one end tosaid lower knife-supporting portion for horizontal extension intransverse relation to the direction of movement of the vehicle andbeing disposed in spaced relation beneath the finder wheel for cuttingengagement with the beet tops, said topping knife being provided withfront intersecting cutting edges including an outer cutting edgeextending laterally beneath the finder wheel and an inner cutting edgeextending forwardly and inwardly toward said knife-supporting portionfrom the point of intersection w'th the outer cutting edge, andresilient guide means secured to said knife-supporting portion andextending rearwardly above and forwardly 8 of the inner cutting edge ofsaid topping knife whereby FOREIGN PATENTS to yieldingly urge the beettops into the path of advance- 493 180 1/1950 Belgium ment of saidfinder wheel. 9971644 9/1951 France.

References Cited r 710,657 6/1954 Great Brrtaln.

v.) UNITED STATES PATENTS ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

2,062,711 12/1936 Hansen 5625.4 P. A. RAZZANO, Assistant Examiner.2,261,324 11/1941 Zuckerman et a1. 5612l.43

1. IN A BEET TOPPING DEVICE MOUNTED IN ATTACHED RELATION TO A TRACTOR OFTHE TYPE HAVING AN ELONGATED NARROW CHASSIS WITH A FRONT CENTER WHEELMEMBER AND A REAR DRIVE AXLE PROVIDED WITH SPACED APART REAR DRIVEWHEELS, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH COMPRISING A SERIES OF BEET TOPPERUNITS INCLUDING A COMMON, RELATIVELY STATIONARY SUPPORT BEING MOUNTEDFORWARDLY OF AND IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO THE REAR DRIVE AXLE ANDEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH OF THE TRACTOR, APLURALITY OF PIVOTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAIDSTATIONARY SUPPORT FOR FORWARD SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL EXTENSIONTHEREFROM IN UNIFORMLY SPACED, PARALLEL RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER ACROSSTHE SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH OF THE TRACTOR AND BEING PIVOTAL INDEPENDENTLY OFONE ANOTHER ON SAID STATIONARY SUPPORT, EACH OF SAID TOPPER UNITSFURTHER INCLUDING A TOPPING KNIFE ASSEMBLY DEPENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THEFORWARD END OF EACH PIVOTAL SUPPORT MEMBER, EACH KNIFE ASSEMBLY HAVING ATOPPING KNIFE WITH A FRONT CUTTING EDGE EXTENDING IN HORIZONTALTRANSVERSE RELATION TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE TRACTOR, A DRIVEWHEEL BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON EACH PIVOTAL SUPPORT MEMBER INSPACED, CENTERED RELATION ABOVE THE FRONT CUTTING EDGE FOR ENGAGEMENTWITH THE BEET TOPS, SAID TOPPING KNIVES AND ASSOCIATED DRIVE WHEELSBEING SUSPENDED FROM SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS AT UNIFROMALLY SPACEDTRANSVERSE INTERVALS ACROSS THE SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH OF THE TRACTOR ANDWITH THE SPACING THEREBETWEEN CORRESPONDING TO THE SPACING BETWEEN BEETROWS, AND DRIVE MEANS BEING DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID DRIVEWHEELS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATE SAID DRIVE WHEELS IN A DIRECTION URGINGTHE BEET TOPS IN EACH ROW TOWARD AND ACROSS THE RESPECTIVE TOPPINGKNIVES FOR TOPPING AND DISCHARGE THEREFROM.